Netflix Expands Gaming Strategy with TV-Based Video Games

Netflix (NFLX) is making a bold foray into the gaming sector by enabling video games to be played directly on smart TVs without the need for consoles. Announced by Co-CEO Greg Peters at the Bloomberg Screentime Conference, this strategic pivot sent NFLX shares up 2% on Thursday. The initiative targets casual and party-friendly games, leveraging smartphones as controllers via the new "Netflix Game Controller" app.

The initial lineup includes titles like Boggle Party, Pictionary: Game Night, and Tetris Time Warp, all optimized for group play. A dedicated "Games" tab now appears in Netflix's smart TV app, streamlining access. The service is currently available in select markets, including the U.S., Canada, and major European countries.

This expansion underscores Netflix's ambition to diversify beyond streaming amid intensifying competition. While cryptocurrencies and exchanges aren't directly implicated, the MOVE highlights how tech giants are aggressively capturing adjacent digital entertainment markets—a trend crypto-native platforms like Binance and Coinbase monitor closely as they explore convergence opportunities.